∞∞∞
Duke glared at the darkening skies from his position upon the doorstep of the house. “Don’t you dare snow,” he warned.
The day was growing late yet no one seemed concerned that Violet and Ivy had yet to return. He didn’t understand how even Roman could be so relaxed about these women gallivanting about the country pretending to be investigators. His friend used to be considered quite the uptight man. Marriage had changed him.
“Not for the better either,” Duke muttered to himself then regretted the words. Roman deserved happiness and Duke didn’t begrudge him finding it with a Musgrave.
But did he have to be so damned relaxed about the whole situation, though?
He straightened, hands to his knees when he heard a rumble in the distance. Carriage wheels? Carriage wheels currently conveying Violet and Ivy? He rose to his feet with a groan and peered at the long stretch of road that led to the house.
Rubbing his hands together to warm them, he hissed out a misted breath. Even his thick kid gloves could not compete with the increasing chill of the day but how could he stay in bed and simply wait and hope for Violet to return. He had to do something even if it meant freezing to death much to everyone’s annoyance.
Well, it would serve them right if he froze and they all discovered him standing here like a statue. Let that be a lesson to Violet—do not run off when Duke explicitly said no.
He clenched his hands by his side when he spied the closed carriage. It was all he could do not to march down the road and meet her. Did Violet have any idea how much she had worried him? Did she know...? He made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. He sounded like an overprotective Mama, and he couldn’t stand it. This was not him. Not normally.
By some miracle, he waited for the vehicle to pull up outside of the house and for both women to alight—entirely safe, unharmed, and bloody well laughing.
He couldn’t believe it. Here he was imagining Violet beaten and left for dead and here she was, all beautiful and laughing.
She stilled when she spotted him standing underneath the pediment and her smile dropped. Violet hastened over and grabbed both of his hands. “Whatever are you doing out there? Even with gloves your hands are freezing!”
“You went to my home,” he said.
Ivy glanced between them both then gestured toward the house. “I think I am going to… um...I shall see you inside.” She dashed into the house and the door shut firmly behind her.
Duke barely looked her way. He eyed Violet from head-to-toe. Entirely intact and unharmed. He had to resist the need to pat her from top to bottom to be certain. She scarcely appeared even crumpled or tired from the journey. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks a little pink from the cold, and she made his heart clench just by looking at her.
He swallowed hard. He’d already made enough of a fool of himself by insisting on sitting outside in the depths of winter. Now was not the time to add to that by giving in to some odd emotion that kept wrapping about his heart.
“I did go to your home,” she said softly. “I asked about your father.”
“I told you not to.”
“Well, we had to do something.”
“No, no.” He shook his head forcefully. “Ihad to do something.” He thrust a thumb at himself. “You had to do nothing.”
Violet cocked her head. “Duke, you could not have travelled. Look at you.”
“I’ve survived a day of worry about you, I think I can survive a short carriage ride.”
“You spent the day worrying about me?”
“Well, of course I did. The men who did this to me are dangerous, Vi.” He shook his head. “I thought you were a clever girl.”
“I’m a cleverwoman.” She released his hands and straightened her shoulders. “And I was in no danger. We had two footmen and the driver with us, and what possible harm could come from going to your father’s house?”
“If Patrick Doyle figures out you are investigating...”
“Is he really going to suspect Lady Violet Musgrave of investigating a kidnapping?”
Duke looked at the paving stones. She was not wrong there. No one would suspect this beautiful, wealthy woman capable of doing such things. He knew better, though. Violet might enjoy dancing and have a ready smile but there were few people cleverer. The reason she’d thrived when the rest of her family had not fared so well was partially due to her ravishing looks and partly down to her intellect. She could adapt to any given situation, and he couldn’t help admiring that.
It did not mean he wanted her involved in this Doyle mess though.
“You need to stop this, Vi,” he ordered. “The situation is too dangerous. I’ll hire a man—a dozen men—if needs be, and I’ll—”